Woman Charged With Embezzling $453K From Employer
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) -- A Landover woman has been indicted on charges of embezzling more than $453,000 from her employer and using the money to buy a house in Africa, expensive electronics and jewelry.
A federal grand jury in Greenbelt indicted Mercy Coffie-Joseph, 40, on Monday. She is charged with wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
According to the 10-count indictment, Coffie-Joseph worked at Systems Assessment & Research Inc. and had the authority to make electronic payments on the firm's behalf.
Prosecutors say Coffie-Joseph transferred money from her employer's account to her own. Authorities say she bought a house in Ghana.
Prosecutors says items seized in a raid on Coffie-Joseph's home include a video camera worth about $10,000; a Gucci handbag worth about $885, diamond earrings and necklace and a Movado watch.
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